Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has warned of the dangers climate change poses to the state, urging immediate action to avert potential natural disasters.
Addressing attendees at a strategic stakeholders’ management meeting with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, organised by the Ministry of Justice, on Wednesday, Hamzat pointed to global examples, such as the United Kingdom and New York City in the United States, where residents are already relocating due to the impacts of climate change.
“If we do nothing, Lagos could face the same fate, with the threat of sinking and submersion looming,” he cautioned.
He added, “Lagos, with its 180-kilometre shoreline, is particularly vulnerable. Today, both Lagos and New York City are sinking.”
Stressing the urgency of the situation, he outlined extreme heat, climate change, and rising sea levels as three major threats facing the state.
The deputy governor called for a shift in focus over the next 20 to 25 years, saying, “We must prioritise which areas to preserve.”
He also criticised the mismanagement of land and the lack of effective physical planning in Nigeria, labelling them as some of the country’s biggest challenges.
He cited the example of the UK, where 14 per cent of the land is managed by the City of London, with the remainder controlled by the national government.
He noted that New York City had halted the approval of new high-rise buildings because of concerns over the city’s sinking.
“We have to learn from these global examples and act now before it’s too late,” Hamzat concluded as he urged stakeholders to take proactive steps in addressing these existential threats.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), in his opening remarks, said the stakeholders’ meeting was to reduce government litigations in courts and to prevent further clogging of the justice delivery system with avoidable cases.
He said that as of July 2024, before the courts’ annual vacation, there were over 6,047 pending in court with land disputes alone accounting for more than 2,500, physical planning, 310; housing, 240; road transportation, 150; environment, 75; chieftaincy, 250; breach of contract, 50; employment and pension, 50; and constitutional and other cases 150.
Pedro stated that the government’s financial exposure in these cases amounts to approximately N114.5bn.
He added that the meeting, which brought together key players in the justice sector, sought a collaborative approach to ensure efficient justice delivery in Lagos State.
“This meeting is a product of the insightful discussions we had during the Lagos Justice Summit earlier this year,” he said.
“The recommendations emphasised the importance of greater synergy, transparency, and cooperation among all stakeholders,” he added.
Pedro noted that justice delivery required the combined efforts of various institutions, adding that “Lagos State remains committed to the rule of law, accountability, and good governance.”
He, however, said delivering justice was not the responsibility of a single institution, as it required collaboration from all arms of government, law enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies, and the community at large.
A key focus of the meeting was on how to improve coordination between law enforcement agencies and the Ministry of Justice, particularly in prosecuting state offences.
“We are developing a process to enhance this coordination, especially where security agencies are deemed to have the Attorney General’s general fiat,” Pedro explained.
He also reassured security agencies of the ministry’s full support in combating corruption but stressed the Attorney General’s duty to protect citizens from oppression through the misuse of the court system.
“The court process must not be used to harass or intimidate citizens into settling civil disputes or personal scores,” he warned.
To prevent the justice system from becoming clogged with avoidable cases, Pedro urged the ministry and MDAs to reduce litigation, close inter-ministerial gaps, and minimise government exposure to liabilities.
“Redesigning our processes will benefit both MDAs and the public by reducing unproductive activities, improving flexibility, and accelerating access to information,” he added.
Earlier, Pedro said the government’s decision not to join other states in their lawsuit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before the Supreme Court was because of an ongoing case between it and the anti-graft agency over a similar issue, which was before the apex court.
Pedro said after the Lagos State House of Assembly passed a law to establish a state anti-corruption agency, the EFCC, through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, took the state to the Supreme Court.
He explained that joining the new suit alongside other states would constitute an abuse of the court process, as the matter between the EFCC and Lagos State was already under consideration by the court.
“My response to the question about why Lagos State did not join other claimant states challenging the EFCC is that Lagos had enacted a law on public complaints and set up an anti-corruption agency to tackle corruption in the state,” Pedro said.
“However, the EFCC, through the AGF, challenged this law in the Supreme Court. Joining the new suit would, therefore, amount to an abuse of the court process,” he added.
Pedro noted that the case filed by the AGF had delayed the operations of the Lagos anti-corruption agency, adding that they expected the Supreme Court to fix a date for the matter soon.
“The EFCC, police, and other agencies can investigate corruption cases, but when it comes to prosecution, the Attorney-General of the state holds the power to prosecute state offences.
“Any agency prosecuting state offences does so on behalf of the Attorney-General, under the presumption that they have the fiat of the Attorney-General to act,” he said.
Pedro also dismissed speculations that Lagos State’s refusal to join the suit was influenced by President Bola Tinubu’s Lagos origin.
“I’ve been asked if Lagos didn’t join because the President is from here, and I say no, that’s not the case. We already have a pending case for the Supreme Court to decide,” he clarified.
He further mentioned that Lagos State enjoys a collaborative relationship with the EFCC, adding that even when state offences were prosecuted, they were done on behalf of the Attorney-General.
“The Attorney-General has the constitutional power to take over or discontinue any case in the interest of justice and public interest,” he added.
The keynote speaker, who is the Chairman of the Lagos State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun (retd), called for greater collaboration between law enforcement agencies and state prosecutors to address corruption and restore public trust.
She called for immediate action to tackle the issues eroding the integrity of public officials.
Olatoregun, in the keynote address titled “Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice: Enhancing Coordination Between Law Enforcement Agencies and the Ministry of Justice, Particularly in Criminal Prosecution and Anti-Corruption Efforts,” emphasised the need for a unified approach.
“There are many government agencies tasked with checking criminal activities in Lagos, yet we still face rampant crimes,” she said.
She pointed to corruption as a significant obstacle in the justice system, noting its pervasive impact on society.
“Corruption, particularly financial crime, often regarded as a white-collar crime, is extremely dangerous to the fabric of society, despite being understated in perception,” Olatoregun remarked.
The retired judge highlighted various incidents of corruption, including collapsed buildings with fraudulent permits, budget padding, and misappropriation of public funds.
She proposed that stricter oversight was essential to prevent these incidents.
“Stronger regulatory oversight and transparency are crucial. Regular audits of public projects, stricter enforcement of building codes, and real-time monitoring of funds allocation can help curb corruption and prevent negligence,” she suggested.
